Gut-wrenched

In the 50s Japanese department stores would display large TVs and let customers and window shoppers watch professional wrestling. Big crowds formed to watch the famed Rikidozan whup some long haired American and return pride to the recently defeated Japanese. It was hardly the same experience when I strode into the Bic Camera store to try to stand and watch a satellite broadcast of Cerezo Osaka away at Yokohama, but after I succeeded in finding a tiny set with the game on, two more interested Osakans joined me for the roller coaster ride. A few feet on another set Osaka Gamba played their half of the unfolding J-League end-of-season drama. Once again we were outplayed by the opposition, hardly the stuff of champions. Yet after a scoreless 1st half, the second began optimistically as Morishima stole a botched Yokohama clearance and we were ahead 1-0. On the other channel Gamba were losing their last home match of the season to their Nabisco Cup nemesis JEF United 2-1. If we won and Kashima, losing 2-1 to Shimizu held, then the championship could only go either of the two Osaka clubs. Time stood still as keeperYoshida saved one, hen two solid Yokohama shots. The opponents, playing like the former chamoions they are, earned corner kick and corner kick, but again we held. Then 45:00 and four minutes of extra time. Nail biting. I thought "Why aren't we playing more keep away, how about just one pass back to the goal?" Then a Yokohama rush, all thier attackers are in the box, the ball sppurts free and one - two shots, uncleared, then a third short range shot- IT GOES IN. Uno a uno. Glory missed by minutes, but Gamba loses, Kashima ties and we are in first place clear by one measly point. Had we won it would have clinched the yuusho for either us or Gamba. Now we have a dogpile! Three teams are tied for third two points back and stumbling Gamba are second. So next Saturday at home only a win will insure the championship. It will be a long week to think about what might have been and next Saturday will be the longest day. Why do I care? I'll try and explain in the next post.